MHA, IB had alerted C’garh a month ago
Top security officials said slain Congress leader Mahendra Karma was a Z-plus protectee and it was the responsibility of the Chhattisgarh government to provide him adequate security cover.
Notably, Karma was instrumental in setting up salwa judum in the state and was the known enemy No. 1 of the Maoists in the state.
Initial reports suggest a security lapse by the state police as inadequate security had been provided to the Congress convoy and the state police could not reach the spot for at least two hours, sources said.
Initial reports also suggest dozens of rounds of bullets were fired on Karma by the Maoists. “The level of security cover should have been high as the CPI(Maoist) had launched a tactical counter-offensive campaign during this period,” a top government functionary said.
The MHA has sought a report asking the Chattissgarh government and the state police explaining what “level of security was provided to him during the rally”.
At least 25-30 securitymen were supposed to guard Karma round-the-clock under Z-plus category, the MHA officials said. Chhattisgarh had been put on alert by the MHA and IB atleast a month back about Maoists targeting politicians, government functionaries between March and mid-June.
But clearly, the Maoists managed to carry out the brutal attack.
The MHA has rushed additional forces from nearby states and is alerting all states to keep high vigil.
The MHA said Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde or R.P.N. Singh is likely to visit Chhattisgarh on Sunday, but it was yet to be decided which of the two would go.
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